Thoral Juanita "Neta" Cargill Fields, age 101, was born on January 26, 1924 to Rev. Porter T. Cargill and Ethel Georgia Stephens Cargill in Milburn, OK. Neta was born in a log cabin, the 3rd of 4 children. Her youngest brother, Gene, was born the day before her birthday. Even though she was 7 years old at the time of his birth they enjoyed an especially close relationship throughout their lives. Her father was a Nazarene preacher and the family lived all over the south and southeastern parts of Oklahoma. She graduated from Poteau High School in May, 1943.

Within two weeks of her high school graduation, Neta and her sister moved to California to start working in the Kaiser-Permanente Shipyards in Richmond, CA. They would learn how to "burn" or cut the metal rivets on ships that were being built. She loved working in the shipyards and building ships. Later in life, Neta became a member of the "Rosie the Riveter" society. Her children and grandchildren became either Rivets (boys) or Rosebuds (girls). She had the time of her life living in California.

Towards the end of the war, Neta moved to Bethany, Oklahoma. That is where she met her future husband, J. Frank Fields, Jr. when he was home on leave from the Marine Corps. They went on a blind date with another couple. By the end of 6 weeks, they had been on 3 dates and he had already proposed to her twice! They decided to get married in about 3 months in Bethany. J had to return to California where he was stationed. When he returned from leave and found out that his troop was due to ship out to Korea, he wired Neta and asked her to come to California immediately and marry him. She did – bought a bus ticket and left for California right away. They were married in the Marine Corps Base Chapel. The wedding was attended by a company of Marines that could not leave the base and one woman, the wife of J's best friend. Neta rented an apartment in Barstow, CA and proceeded to wait for J to return from Korea.

Once J was discharged, the couple moved to Austin, TX where they started their family. They welcomed identical twin boys, Timothy Franklin and Thomas Franklin, on May 27, 1955. J attended the University of Texas at Austin while Neta raised the family and supported them.

Once J graduated from college, he took a job with the Civil Service – Department of Defense. Their first assignment was in California. This is where their daughter, Tamra, was born on November 27, 1963. They moved all over the country from military base to military base. By the time J was stationed at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas the family decided not to move again. They settled in Lawrence, KS where they lived for 17 years. All three of their children graduated from Lawrence High School. J and Neta eventual ly retired to Bethany, OK in 1983.

Neta was an incredibly talented person. She was a very accomplished seamstress. She even made draperies for a living at one point. She made all her daughter's clothing until she started school. She even made a beautiful wedding dress for a young lady in her church. Along with painting and ceramics, she enjoyed needlepoint, even making her family their very own Christmas stockings! Neta also created quite a number of beautiful quilts through the years. Besides needlework, she also was quite a successful gardener. She used these talents not only as a hobby, but to connect with other people. For quite a few years she directed the arts and crafts portion of Vacation Bible School at her local church. She also used her talents to stay involved in her children's school life by volunteering and being a home room mom.

Neta was also quite interested in genealogy. She was self-taught on how to do research and spent countless hours compiling information and visiting libraries, cemeteries and historical societies. Nearly all of her research was done without the aid of computers or other electronics. She was able to prove that her line of ancestors was indeed among the "First Families of the Twin Territories (Oklahoma Territory/Indian Territory)." This is a project of the Oklahoma Genealogical Society to identify those early pioneers. She was published in a Cargill genealogy book. She researched the Corneilius Cargill ancestral (paternal) line back to Ireland in 1680.

Neta was preceded in death by her parents, Rev. and Mrs. Porter T. Cargill; her eldest brother, George Orval Cargill; her sister, Thorval P. Carden; and her youngest brother, Guindon Gene Cargill. She was also preceded in death by her husband, J Frank Fields, Jr; both sons, Thomas Fields and Timothy Fields; one granddaughter, Robin Denell Fields; and countless other cousins and friends.

She is survived by her daughter, Tamra Fields of Bethany; and grandchildren, Lauren MacKenzie Gene Fields of Bethany and Joshua Franklin Fields of Bethany.

Viewing will be at Mercer-Adams on Thursday, October 23, 1-8 p.m. with family present from 6-8 p.m. Funeral services will be Friday, October 24 at 10 a.m. in the Mercer-Adams Chapel followed by interment in Condon Grove Cemetery, Milburn, OK at 3:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Neta's memorial fund to help cover medical and final expenses. https://everloved.com/life-of/thoral-fields/donate/checkout/?flow=201&